A malfunctioning Shell Chemical unit located on the Motiva Enterprises campus in Norco that lost power on Thursday was restarted about 10 p.m. Saturday, according to a news release from the company. The company warned residents that the flaring and smoke that had preceded Thursday's power outage will continue through Sunday.

Shell Chemical on Motiva Enterprises' Norco campus burns chemicals in a flare as a result of equipment failure.Diya Chacko, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune

The state Department of Environmental Quality and a third-party contractor are conducting "extensive monitoring" around the site and the community. So far, the results have shown no adverse environmental impact, according to the release.

"We once again apologize for any inconvenience this event has caused and appreciate your continued support and understanding," the release says.

Shell Chemical reported the incident to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center at about 8 a.m. on Dec. 2, citing no deaths or injuries associated with the accident. According to a report fropm the center, the plant is releasing unknown amounts of hydrogen sulfide, butadiene and benzene, a known carcinogen.

Shell Chemical equipment failure causes flame and flares in St. CharlesShell Chemical, located on the Motiva Enterprises campus in Norco, has been experiencing elevated flares, shooting flames and leaking thick black smoke into the air above St. Charles Parish. According to a report submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard National Response Center, the plant is releasing unknown amounts of hydrogen sulfide, butadiene and benzene, a known carcinogen.

DEQ press secretary Rodney Mallet has said that an unknown unit within the plant sustained damages, and Motiva has opted to send the chemicals typically routed to the damaged unit to a flare to be burned, rather than shutting the unit down altogether and rebooting it. The quantity of chemicals being funneled to the flare, as well as anticipated emissions, are unknown at this time.

Renee Allemand Simpson, public information officer for St. Charles Parish, has said the flare does not pose any significant danger to Norco residents.

"There are no protective actions necessary," she said. "It's not something we're asking people to do anything for; in this case, of a flaring incident, we want people to know that we are aware, and that we're monitoring it, and we ask residents to do the same."